Monthly Archives: July 2014

Weighing in at 180 pounds (81.8kg) and measuring 73.5 inches (1.87m), Lion Country Safari welcomed the largest female giraffe ever born at the park. Mom, Pammella, gave birth during the early morning hours of July 18th.

So, what is her name? That’s where Lion Country Safari is asking for input via social media. Dust off that English to Swahili dictionary you have laying around and toss in your best suggestion for our newest little, big girl on Safari.

This baby and her mom are segregated from the herd in the maternity pen to allow bonding time. They are visible in the drive-through preserve (section 7, Hwange National Park) or from the giraffe feeding exhibit at Lion Country Safari. After three months, they will join the giraffe herd.

A two-week-old okapi calf is walking and getting comfortable exploring his barn at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The male calf, named Jackson, was born on July 6. He is staying close to his mother, Ayana, and has even begun to mimic some of her behaviors. While the young calf’s primary source of nutrition is from nursing, Jackson is curious about plant browse and has been mimicking Ayana and mouthing at browse as she forages.

Animal care staff monitors the young calf’s weight daily on a large scale that Jackson walks onto with guidance from a keeper. This part of his training will help ensure he has a strong, trusting bond with animal care staff. Weighing 57 pounds at birth, Jackson is now 80 pounds, a sign that he is getting enough nutrition from his mother.

Guests will invade LEGOLAND Florida Resort during its kid-friendly Halloween celebration of Brick-or-Treat presented by Wells Fargo this Fall. This spooky event takes place weekends in October, and features trick-or-treating along the brick-or-treat trail, super brick build activities, the largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern in the world, Halloween entertainment and an all-kids costume contest with brick-tastic prizes!

Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare has announced a second engagement for 2014. The ultimate Halloween horror event will invade the Chicago metropolitan area select nights from September 26-November 1 at Odeum Expo in Villa Park, IL.

Opening night will also feature a special one-night-only concert with groundbreaking musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie.

“I am thrilled to be able to expand the Great American Nightmare to TWO new cities this year,” said Zombie. My only goal is to make it twice as sick as last year.”

The Great American Nightmare’s second city will feature three attractions based on Zombie’s own horror films: The Lords Of Salem In Total Black Out, The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto 3D, and Haunt Of 1,000 Corpses. These attractions were first seen at the 2013 GreatAmerican Nightmare debut in Pomona, California and have been improved and enhanced based on visitor feedback.

Mike Williams is a name that most casual Knott’s guests or even fans won’t readily know. However, if you’ve ever had a brush with a fast-talking wiseguy robbing the park’s steam train, or stumbled upon a kooky old miner shuffling around in the fog during Halloween Haunt berating people with his bullhorn, chances are, you’ve crossed Mike Williams’ path, or even been a target in his sights.

For nearly 30 years, Mike worked in varying capacities at Knott’s Berry Farm, from a cook at Captain Kelly’s Cafeteria, to a train robber in Calico, to a performer in multiple entertainment productions at the Farm. While he’s been an asset to Knott’s in each of those roles, none stand out quite as much as his reign as “Dusty Geezer” during Halloween Haunt for more than two decades. Outrageous, hilarious, and in the end, a friend to everyone, Mike’s contributions to Knott’s for the past 30 years have been the stuff legend is made of.